Notes on a Scandal

**** Stars

Explosive. Mesmerizing. Brilliant. There are few words that can sum up the sheer veracity of Judi Dench's portrayal of a shattered, obsessed loner aching for the world to recognize her. Adding to her steam is Cate Blanchett who never misses a beat as a young art teacher in the scandal of her life, and Bill Nighy playing the art teacher's husband in an underrated and wonderfully over-the-top performance. Notes on a Scandal takes you in and never loses you. I am ashamed to say I have never read the 2003 novel by Zoe Heller.

Here's the scoop: Blanchett plays Sheba Hart, a beautiful new art teacher at London's St. George School. Sheba feels her life is a dud, having a bland marriage with her older husband (Nighy) and struggling to raise her son with Down syndrome. So she decides to spice up her life and bang a fifteen year old student on the side. Barbara Covett (Dench) a lesbian teacher, catches her in the act and agrees not to make a scandal if Sheba will become her friend. Behold the power of Barbara.....and Dame Judi Dench.

If Dench hadn't been nominated so much lately, this would be her year. But instead, Helen Mirren in The Queen will take home the prize. Not to take away from Mirren, but Judi Dench, at age 72, takes the riskiest role of her career and creates a woman with unhinged and self-absorbed passions.